Search 1,000 of PHOTOSKatharine Houghton Hepburn (May 12, 1907 – June 29, 2003) was an American actress of film, stage, and television. In an acclaimed career that spanned eight decades (and a record 4 Oscar wins), she was best known for playing strong-willed, sophisticated women in both dramas and comedies, while setting the trend of female independence from men.